Chapter Eleven "We Are Broken"

This chapter is another song title, this time from Paramore. Thanks again for the reviews. This storyline will probably be ending in a few chapters, but I have some ideas for continuing the adventures of these characters. Any ideas for future escapades are welcomed too.

"What am I going to do with you?" Steve asked McKenzie, eying her soaked bandage. He was supposed to do the dishes.

"You were busy?" she replied sheepishly.

Steve rolled his eyes.

"Besides," McKenzie continued, "we can't have you scrubbing away all those callouses. I mean, you'll need them when you go back to your day job."

Steve opened his mouth to say something and stopped. He shook his head and took McKenzie by the arm. Unwrapping the bandage, he saw that her arm was still oozing blood.

"Hold it over the sink," he said. Then he got the first aid kit from the bathroom and cleaned up the injury. "If you're not careful, we'll need more of this." He shook the roll of tape between his fingers before putting it away.

"Don't worry; I took my medicine without being told," McKenzie said with a sarcastic smile.

"All right, all right," Steve said. "How is your face?"

"How's yours?"

"Hey."

"Oh, right. My face is fine and so is yours."

"Better." Steve brushed her hair back to be sure. The cuts had formed scabs and didn't look like they would be any more trouble.

"Can I go play now, Mom?" McKenzie asked, looking up at Steve with a look of contrived innocence.

"You're horrible. How did your parents ever put up with you?"

"I was cute and they gave me whatever I wanted."

"Somehow, I believe that."

"No. I'm actually very easy to get along with. I don't know what your problem is."

"Why must it be me?"

"Because I cannot fathom anyone not liking me."

"Neither can I."

Once again, the two of them stared at each other for a long moment. Finally, McKenzie smiled almost seriously.

"You really need to stop feeding my ego," she said. "It'll make it fat."

"Why do women always worry about that?"

"Being fat? I don't know, Barbie?"

"Eew."

"I know. That's why I eat plenty."

"Not that it helps."

"What's that supposed to mean?"

"I think I've said before: you're small."

"I can't help it!"

"It's okay. You don't look plastic, anyway."

"I'm sure that's some sort of compliment."

"Oh, can't you tell? I've been complimenting you all along."

McKenzie tapped her jaw. "Interesting."

"I must say, I'm surprised you thought I didn't like you."

"Did I say that? Oh, yes. Well, I didn't mean it anyway. I frequently say things I don't mean."

"Why?"

"Because I'm an insecure short person... oh, there I go again."

"It's okay. My friend Danny is only a couple of inches taller than you."

"By 'a couple'..."

"I mean two."

"That's reassuring. So do you make a habit of associating with short people?"

"I guess so."

H-5-O

Grace wanted to ride with Kono on Chin's bike. As if Danny's head didn't hurt enough already. Thankfully, Kono didn't have a spare helmet, so she had to tell Grace no. Danny and Grace got a ride from one of the officers because Kono told Danny he couldn't drive, and he was inclined to agree.

Once everyone was safely back at Chin's house, Kono started lunch. Chin was a little irritated the Kono hadn't woke him before she left.

"What were you gonna do?" she asked as she sliced tomatoes for sandwiches. "It's not like I would have let you come in with me."

"Oh, you think you could have stopped me?" Chin asked.

"See, this is why I didn't wake you up. How's your head?" Kono turned to Danny who was sitting at the counter. He looked up in surprise at her sudden question.

"The ice is helping," he said.

"Have you talked to Grace yet?" Kono nodded toward the living room where Grace was watching cartoons.

"No," Danny replied. "I didn't exactly have time."

"About you two?" Chin asked. "Am I the only one who knows?"

"Steve knows now."

"He does?" Kono asked.

"Yeah, I told him yesterday."

"Oh, that's what you were going on about."

"Going on?"

"Anyway..."

"Yeah." Danny set the icepack on the counter. "I guess I have to go tell her."

As Chin and Kono watched him walk out to the living room, they thought he looked very like a man on the way to his own execution. The only reason for his apprehension they could imagine was that once Grace knew, Rachel would too. And though they weren't sure why, they thought that might cause Danny some anxiety.

Grace was sitting on the floor with her dolphin trainer doll, watching Bugs Bunny. Danny sat on the couch behind her, not knowing if he would be able to get back off the floor if he went down there.

"Hey, Grace," he said, "can I talk to you for a minute?"

She turned the TV off and gave him her full attention. He didn't know how she had that capacity to be considerate. He certainly didn't.

"Do you like Kono?"

Grace seemed surprised by the question. "Yes," she finally said. "She's really cool; I wish we could hang out with her more."

Danny smiled. "Well, we can."

"We can? Can we go surfing?"

"Whoa, hold on a second. That's not what I wanted to tell you."

"So we can't go surfing?"

"I have no comment on that for the moment."

"That means no."

"Grace, I was trying to talk to you about Kono."

"Why?"

"Because I'm going to go out with her."

"Really? Like holding hands and kissing and stuff?"

Danny's smile widened. "Yeah."

Grace wrinkled her nose. "Not in front of me though?"

"Okay."

Grace nodded.

"Does that mean you approve?"

"Well... I guess so, but I still get to come see you, right?"

"Of course."

"And she won't make me have tennis lessons and stuff."

"Nope. Only things you like."

"Like surfing?"

"I thought I told you I wasn't talking about that."

"How about when I'm ten?"

"Later, Monkey."

H-5-O

Something was changing. Steve and McKenzie both knew that. They had fallen into a routine, but still every conversation, every teasing comment, bought them closer to something more meaningful. Both of them were beginning to realize that their lives would never be the same after this. While this may well have been an uncomfortable thought, it struck them both as inevitable. They were inclined to believe that all things happened for a reason.

So, when McKenzie began to think that she wouldn't mind having Steve around to protect her all the time, she wasn't too alarmed by the idea. And Steve also began to think that he wouldn't mind being around to protect her all the time. Perhaps it worked just a little too well.

When McKenzie went out onto the patio late in the afternoon, Steve watched her from inside for a while. He thought it was about time to tell her about his dream and was almost past feeling embarrassed about it. He wasn't sure if she would take it well, but something told him she would understand.

So, he stepped outside and made some pathetic comment about the weather.

McKenzie looked at him for a second and then went back to staring out at the scenery. She could tell he had something on his mind and was waiting for him to bring it up.

"So I had this dream," he began.

"Yeah?" McKenzie replied.

"You knew that. I think you should know how it went."

"It was about me."

"Yes. You kept falling. Like yesterday on the trail. Only in the dream, I can't catch you."

"You're afraid you won't be able to keep me safe."

"Rationally concerned."

"What?" McKenzie turned to face Steve.

"It's what Danny says when I accuse him of being scared."

"So, why are you concerned?"

He shook his head. "I don't know."

"I think I do."

"How's that?"

"Well, when it's just your job, you're confident you can do it, but when it's personal..."

"Personal. Because he's not just threatening some witness now."

"So, can I ask you a very personal question?"

"You can ask."

McKenzie took a deep breath. "Do you like me."

"Yes."

"Oh."

"You were supposed to say something else."

"What?"

"When I answered."

"Um... what was the question?"

"I was being honest and you're making fun of me?"

"No."

"Yes you are." Steve sounded frustrated. "I thought you were serious."

"I was." McKenzie didn't say anything else. She hadn't thought that far ahead. As she let the truth sink in, her hands started to shake. She grabbed the stone railing and took measured breaths. Steve actually liked her and he didn't know she liked him. She remembered she was supposed to say something. It would sound very lame.

"I like you too," she said, not looking at him. She felt heat rising in her face.

"Was that so hard?" Steve asked. He was closer behind her now.

"Yes." She still wouldn't look at him.

Steve laughed. "Why?"

"Because I've never said anything like that before." McKenzie sounded irritated, but really, she was just embarrassed. "And it's not so surprising is it? I mean, you're..."

"I'm what?"

"You know; I don't have to tell you."

"Yeah, but why don't you anyway?" Steve put his hands on her shoulders.

McKenzie felt a little better then, and leaned into him. "You're not perfect I guess, though that's what I was going to say."

"Really? Perfect?"

"Well, see, I'm biased."

"And you've known me six days?"

"I'm very perceptive."

"Yeah, you are."

"So, that's why you like me?"

"There are other things."

"Like?"

"Like you trust me."

McKenzie thought about that. She did, implicitly. Because she was very perceptive and she knew he was trustworthy. More than that, she knew he would put other people before himself.

Steve wrapped his arms all the way around her shoulders so that her back was flat against him. McKenzie relaxed, hearing his heartbeat and feeling very safe, warm, and incandescently happy.